Saturday, February 6, 2016

JANUARY 2016

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! IT'S A GREAT TIME TO BE ALIVE AND A GREAT TIME TO SERVE THE LORD ON A FULL-TIME MISSION!

WE WERE ABLE TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH OUR DAUGHTER AND SON-IN-LAW AND THEIR 3 SWEET CHILDREN. IT WAS JUST US AND WE PLAYED GAMES AND ATE, AND PLAYED GAMES AND ATE, AND PLAYED GAMES AND WENT OUTSIDE TO BANG ON PANS AT MIDNIGHT. WE ALWAYS DID THAT WITH OUR CHILDREN AND THE TRADITION CONTINUES.

WITH ELDER & SISTER HILL RETURNING HOME FROM THEIR MISSION, OUR WORKLOAD HAS PRETTY MUCH TRIPLED, WHICH MAKES FOR MANY, MANY BLESSINGS FROM THE LORD! WE HAVE TAKEN ON THE FORT BRAGG WARD AND YOUNG SINGLE ADULT BRANCH AND IT HAS KEPT US EXTREMELY BUSY. CAMERON WARD HAS A VERY SOFT SPOT IN OUR HEARTS, SINCE THIS IS THE AREA WE STARTED OUT IN. WE CONTINUE TO SERVE IN THIS WARD AS WELL, AND EVERY OTHER DAY WHEN WE TRAVEL TO THAT WARD'S BOUNDARIES, WE ALWAYS GET A FEELING OF NOSTALGIA TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK AND SEE THE SWEET MEMBERS THERE AND BRING THEM A MESSAGE TO UPLIFT AND, HOPEFULLY, INSPIRE THEM.

WE BEGAN THE NEW YEAR BY VISITING 6 NEW FAMILIES IN THE CAMERON WARD. THREE OF THESE WERE MEMBERS WHO HAD LIVED HERE FOR UP TO 2 YEARS, AND THEIR RECORDS HAD FINALLY CAUGHT UP WITH THEM. SOME ACTIVE, SOME INACTIVE. WE DID OUR USUAL THING OF TAKING A BOX OF HONEY BUNS WITH US TO GIVE TO THE FAMILIES WITH LITTLE ONES. WE HAVE FOUND THIS HAS HELPED SORT OF BREAK THE ICE WITH THOSE WHO TEND TO BE LESS ACTIVE. WE HAVE FOUND SUCCESS AND WE HAVE FOUND SORROW. ONE VERY SWEET FAMILY WE MET - THE FATHER IS IN SPECIAL FORCES. THEY HAVE 2 SWEET CHILDREN. BOTH ARE MEMBERS. THE FATHER SERVED A MISSION TO FRANCE AND HE HAS A SISTER WHO IS NOW ON A MISSION IN ARGENTINA. HE TOLD US THAT BECAUSE OF HIS PARENTS PUSHING HIS WIFE TO GET BAPTIZED, THEY HAVE DECIDED NOT TO BE ACTIVE IN THE CHURCH AT ALL. HE STATED TO US THAT HIS WIFE IS PROBABLY MORE INTERESTED IN THE CHURCH THAN HE IS. WE WEREN'T ABLE TO MEET HER BECAUSE SHE WAS AT WORK. THIS JUST ABOUT BROKE OUR HEARTS. WE HAVE NOW BEEN ABLE TO EXPERIENCE SOMETHING OF WHAT OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN FEELS WHEN ONE OF HIS VERY SPECIAL SPIRIT CHILDREN TURNS AWAY FROM THE GOSPEL. IT IS SUCH A DEEP FEELING OF SADNESS FOR US. OTHERS WE HAVE MET EMBRACE US AND ARE SO HAPPY TO HAVE THE GOSPEL IN THEIR LIVES.

THE CAMERON WARD HAD A CHANGE IN BISHOPS AND BISHOP HOOSTE IS NOW THE BISHOP. HIS WIFE HAS BEEN RELIEF SOCIETY PRESIDENT SO WE LOOK FOR A CHANGE THERE SOON. BISHOP COLBY AND HIS WIFE PCS'D (PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION) TO FORT SAM HOUSTON IN SAN ANTONIO TEXAS. THE CAMERON WARD MISSION LEADER HAS BEEN STRIVING DILIGENTLY TO ENCOURAGE THE MEMBERS TO HAVE "MISSIONARY EXPERIENCES." HE HAS DONE THIS IN A NUMBER OF WAYS. STILL, NOT MUCH SUCCESS TO REPORT. THE CAMERON ELDERS HAVE FELT LIKE THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING DONE TO "BRING THE SPARK OF MISSIONARY WORK" INTO THEIR HEARTS. CONSEQUENTLY, THE ENTIRE 5TH SUNDAY WAS DEDICATED TO MISSIONARY WORK. ELDER WADLEY AND I SPOKE, AS DID THE ELDERS AND WARD MISSION LEADER. WE LEFT THE MEMBERSHIP WITH CHALLENGES TO GIVE ONE ANOTHER AND WAYS TO ACCOMPLISH THESE CHALLENGES. WE ARE PRAYING THAT THEIR HEARTS WERE TOUCHED AND THAT MISSIONARY WORK CAN, ONCE AGAIN, BE A PRIORITY IN THE WARD.

BROTHER AND SISTER KIRBY, AN ELDERLY COUPLE IN THE CAMERON WARD ARE BEING CHALLENGED SO MUCH LATELY. SISTER KIRBY HAS STAGE 4 CANCER AND BROTHER KIRBY'S HEALTH ISN'T THAT GOOD. WE GO OVER ONCE A WEEK AND ELDER WADLEY TAKES BROTHER KIRBY TO RUN ERRANDS THAT NEED TO BE DONE AND SISTER WADLEY SITS WITH SISTER KIRBY AND WE USUALLY END UP WATCHING THE BYU CHANNEL. SHE IS SUCH A STRONG SPIRIT - WITH SUCH A STRONG TESTIMONY OF THE SAVIOR. AS SHE LAYS IN THE BED SHE HAS BEEN IN NOW FOR OVER 5 MONTHS, SHE WILL SAY TO SISTER WADLEY, "ONLY THE LORD KNOWS HOW LONG MY LIFE WILL BE HERE, ONLY THE LORD KNOWS." THEY HAVE STRENGTHENED OUR TESTIMONY OF ETERNAL LIFE AND OF FAMILIES SO MUCH SINCE WE HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW AND LOVE THEM! ONE DAY WHEN WE HAD GONE OVER TO SEE THEM, BROTHER KIRBY HAD HAD A VERY BAD DAY. MEDICAL SUPPLY COMPANIES HAD BEEN IN AND OUT ALL DAY. NURSES HAD BEEN IN AND OUT. BROTHER KIRBY MADE THE COMMENT THAT, "EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN SO HECTIC AND I'M SO VERY TIRED, I CAN STILL SEE ALL THE GOOD IN THE PEOPLE WHO COME INTO OUR HOME AND IT MAKES ME REALIZE THAT THE LORD IS STILL AWARE OF US AND IS LOOKING OUT FOR US." WHAT FAITH THEY BOTH HAVE! WE FEEL SO BLESSED TO KNOW THEM.

THE NEW YEAR BROUGHT SEVERAL MORE FAMILIES WITH THEIR DAD BEING DEPLOYED IN THE FORT BRAGG WARD. MOST OF THESE FAMILIES HAVE AT LEAST 3 SMALL CHILDREN. 3 OF THE FAMILIES HAVE 5 CHILDREN, THE OLDEST BEING 7. THEIR FATHER'S WILL BE GONE 9 MONTHS. THEY ARE SUCH STRONG SISTERS WHO TAKE THE REINS AND CONTINUE ON. WE SEE THEM EVERY WEEK AT CHURCH. ONE SISTER, WHO HAS 5 CHILDREN AND HER HUSBAND IS DEPLOYED, PLAYS THE ORGAN IN SACRAMENT MEETING, SO ELDER WADLEY AND I SIT WITH THE CHILDREN UNTIL SHE COMES DOWN OFF THE STAND. SHE HAS AN 11 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER, TWIN 3 YEAR OLD BOYS, A 5 YEAR OLD BOY AND A 7 YEAR OLD BOY. YOU MIGHT SAY WE ARE DEFINITELY "THE GRANDMA AND GRANDPA" OF THE WARD. WE BELIEVE THERE IS ONE OTHER COUPLE WHO ARE OUR AGE AND SHE USUALLY HAS A BABY SITTING ON HER LAP TOO! OH...HOW WE LOVE THEM!!!

JANUARY 5TH BROUGHT THE FIRST ZONE CONFERENCE IN THE MISSION TO OUR ZONE! PRESIDENT AND SISTER JAMES WERE THERE, ALONG WITH THE 2 ASSISTANTS TO THE PRESIDENT, ELDER AND SISTER SCOTT WHO WORK IN THE MISSION OFFICE AND ELDER AND SISTER WALKER. ELDER WALKER IS SISTER JAMES UNCLE AND HE AND HIS WIFE ARE SERVING IN THE MISSION OFFICE WITH ELDER WALKER OVER FINANCES AND SISTER WALKER A MISSION NURSE. WHAT WONDERFUL PEOPLE THEY ARE! THE WALKER'S ARE FROM HORSESHOE BEND, IDAHO! IT WAS SO FUN TO VISIT WITH THEM AND GET TO KNOW THEM. ELDERS AND SISTERS IN THE ZONE GAVE LESSONS ON CHRIST LIKE ATTRIBUTES, ON GOOD LANGUAGE, ON REPENTANCE, AND ON TAKING UPON US THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. PRESIDENT JAMES INSTRUCTED US ON HOW OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN SEES EACH OF US. HE DID THIS IN SUCH A UNIQUE WAY. FIRST OF ALL, HE SHOWED US A PICTURE OF AN ARTIST AT AN EASEL PAINTING A PICTURE OF A BEAUTIFUL BIRD IN FLIGHT. HE HAD A MODEL SITTING ON A TABLE NEXT TO HIM AND THE PICTURE DEPICTS HIM LOOKING AT THE MODEL. THE MODEL, HOWEVER, WAS NOT OF A BIRD, BUT WAS AN EGG. THUS: THE ARTIST WAS PORTRAYING WHAT THIS EGG COULD ACTUALLY BECOME. IN THE SAME WAY, OUR FATHER SEES US AS HIS CHILDREN, AND KNOWS THE WONDERFUL PERSON WE CAN AND ARE BECOMING.

PRESIDENT JAMES EXPLAINED TO US THAT THIS PICTURE WAS SHOWN BY BISHOP COSA WHEN HE WAS GIVING A TALK AT THE MTC TO ALL THE NEW MISSION PRESIDENTS AND THEIR WIVES. HE SAID THIS PAINTING REPRESENTED HOW 2 MISSIONARIES SAW HIS PARENTS AS THEY TAUGHT THEM THE GOSPEL. HE SAID THE MISSIONARIES SAW BEYOND A YOUNG ARGUMENTATIVE COUPLE AND THEIR LITTLE BOY (BISHOP COSA,) WHO WERE STRUGGLING STUDENTS. THEY SAW TO THE FINISHED PRODUCT - A FAMILY JOINING THE CHURCH AND BEING SEALED IN THE TEMPLE. AS HE FINISHED HIS TALK, HE HELD UP A PICTURE OF A TEMPLE AND HIS ENTIRE FAMILY WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF IT. PRESIDENT JAMES TOLD US THAT WE WILL HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE FAMILIES TOO! WHAT A REALLY WONDERFUL STORY THAT WAS!

WE THEN HAD A LOT OF FUN WITH SISTER JAMES GOING OVER DIFFERENT WAYS WE CAN MAKE "GREEN SMOOTHIES" AND EAT HEALTHIER. SHE TOLD US THAT SHE HAD BEEN ASKED TO DO SOME PAINTINGS ON THE WALLS IN PRESIDENT AND SISTER UCHTDORF'S HOME AND AS SHE PAINTED, SISTER UCHTDORF WOULD BRING HER A GREEN SMOOTHIE. SISTER JAMES HAD BROUGHT LOTS OF INGREDIENTS AND HER PROCESSOR AND HAD MADE US ALL A LITTLE SAMPLE OF A SMOOTHIE RIGHT THERE AND IT WAS GREAT! SHE ALSO SHARED RECIPES SUCH AS BAKING KALE AND PUTTING ANY SEASONING ON IT THAT YOU WANT. SHE PASSED SOME AROUND THAT HAD BBQ SEASONING ON IT. THEY WERE SORT OF LIKE POTATO CHIPS. NOT BAD! WE HAD A GOOD LAUGH WHEN ONE OF THE CAMERON ELDERS SAID, "CHUCK IT DOWN, CHUCK IT DOWN....KILL IT!" ELDER WADLEY AND I NEEDED TO HAVE MORE OF A "SWEET" TASTE IN OURS, SO WE JUST CHUCKED IT DOWN AS ELDER ROSE TOLD EVERYONE TO DO! IT WAS A REALLY SPIRITUAL AND FUN ZONE CONFERENCE. PRESIDENT JAMES TOLD US THAT WE WERE THE GUINEA PIGS, BEING THE FIRST ZONE CONFERENCE OF THE NEW YEAR, AND THEY WERE STILL WORKING OUT THE KINKS FOR THE NEW YEAR'S ZONE CONFERENCE PRESENTATION, BUT IT TRULY WAS AWESOME!

THE CAMERON ELDERS DON'T ALWAYS HAVE DINNER APPOINTMENTS AND SINCE THEY LIVE A WAYS AWAY, WE DRIVE THERE AND TAKE THEM SOMEWHERE TO EAT. THEY ARE ALWAYS SO APPRECIATIVE! THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND SEVERAL NEW INVESTIGATORS AND ELDER WADLEY AND I HAVE ACCOMPANIED THEM TO SOME OF THEIR LESSONS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY NEED A SISTER PRESENT IF THEY ARE GIVING A LESSON TO A SINGLE SISTER. IT HAS BEEN SO MUCH FUN SEEING THE HAND OF THE LORD CHANGE THE HEARTS OF PEOPLE THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF THESE FINE MISSIONARIES AND THE SPIRIT!

BY HAVING MILITARY RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVE MISSIONARIES LIKE WE ARE, AT DIFFERENT ARMY BASES, WE ARE ABLE TO SEND INFORMATION BACK AND FORTH TO EACH OTHER OF MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH ARE COMING TO THEIR BASES OR THEM COMING TO FORT BRAGG. THIS IS A TREMENDOUS HELP IN KEEPING THE MISSIONARY EFFORT GOING AND HELPING THE MEMBERS TO STAY A PART OF THE GOSPEL. WE HAVE HAD SOME GOOD SUCCESS IN PASSING NAMES ALONG TO FORT BENNING IN GEORGIA LATELY. THIS POST IS A TRAINING POST. WE HAVE HAD MILITARY MEMBERS LEAVE HERE, NOT BEING VERY ACTIVE, AND WE HAVE SENT THEIR INFORMATION TO FORT BENNING AND THEY HAVE VISITED THEM, USUALLY WITH A LOT OF SUCCESS! IT IS WONDERFUL! WHEN WE WERE IN THE MTC, WE HAD 2 DAYS OF TRAINING SPECIFICALLY DEALING WITH OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS MILITARY RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVES, WHICH ARE SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT THAN A MEMBER SUPPORT MISSIONARY. THE END RESULT, THOUGH, IS ALWAYS THE SAME.....WE LOVE THEM!
THE YOUNG SINGLE ADULT BRANCH IS COMING ALONG WELL. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME MAJOR CHANGES TAKE PLACE. THEY HAD BEEN HOLDING THE FAMILY HOME EVENING ON MONDAY NIGHT AT THE STAKE CENTER HERE IN FAYETTEVILLE. AS OF THE 18TH OF JANUARY, IT WAS CHANGED TO BE HELD IN PRESIDENT DICKERSON'S HOME IN VAAS, WHICH IS ABOUT 20 MINUTES FROM THE POST.
THE ATTENDANCE ALWAYS VARIES DEPENDING ON WORK SCHEDULES. USUALLY WE HAVE ABOUT 15 MEMBERS PRESENT. ONE MONDAY EVENING WE HAD 3 INVESTIGATORS COME WITH MEMBERS! THE LAST FAMILY HOME EVENING WE MADE 2 TEAMS AND PLAYED "PASSWORD" WITH PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS FROM THE SCRIPTURES. THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN!

THE 18TH OF JANUARY FOUND US TRAVELING OUT TO VAAS TO PRESIDENT DICKERSON'S HOME FOR THE YOUNG SINGLE ADULT FAMILY HOME EVENING. IT IS ABOUT A HALF HOUR AWAY FROM FROM FT. BRAGG. THE DICKERSON'S MOVED CLOSER TO FORT BRAGG FROM PINEHURST IN ORDER TO HELP FACILITATE ACTIVITIES FOR THE BRANCH. BY THE WAY, PINEHURST IS "THE PREMIER" CITY FOR ALL OF THE BIG GOLF TOURNAMENTS. IT HELD THE U.S. OPEN GOLF TOURNAMENT THERE 2 YEARS AGO. THERE ARE OVER 60 GOLF COURSES IN THE CITY. WE HAVE PUT THAT CITY DOWN ON OUR "BUCKET LIST" TO VISIT BEFORE LEAVING OUR MISSION. THAT EVENING WE WERE ABLE TO HEAR PRESIDENT NELSON'S TALK TO THE YOUNG SINGLE ADULTS THAT HE GAVE THE PRIOR SUNDAY EVENING. SISTER NELSON SPOKE AS WELL. WHAT A SPIRITUAL FEAST IT WAS!

STAKE CONFERENCE FELL ON JANUARY 17TH AND IT WAS A SATELLITE BROADCAST ON REVERENCE FROM SALT LAKE CITY. THE SPEAKERS WERE L. WHITNEY CLAYTON, OF THE PRESIDENCY OF THE SEVENTY, SISTER LINDA REEVES, 2ND COUNSELOR IN THE RELIEF SOCIETY GENERAL PRESIDENCY, ELDER RONALD A. RASBAND OF THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES, AND ELDER ROBERT D. HALES OF THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES. AGAIN....WHAT AN EXCEPTIONAL SPIRITUAL FEAST!

OUR DISTRICT MEETING FOR THAT SAME WEEK HAD A SHORTENED VERSION OF OUR REGULAR MEETING, DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO WATCH A SPECIAL WORLDWIDE MISSIONARY BROADCAST AT NOON FROM SALT LAKE CITY. THOSE INSTRUCTING US INCLUDED: BRENT H. NIELSON OF THE SEVENTY, NEIL L. ANDERSON OF THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES, DAVID A. BEDNAR OF THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES AND W. CHROSTOPHER WADDELL OF THE PRESIDING BISHOPRIC. SUCH GREAT INSTRUCTION FROM ALL OF THEM. THEY WERE IN SMALL SEGMENTS WITH FULL TIME ELDERS AND SISTERS IN A CLASSROOM SETTING, BEING INSTRUCTED BY THE LEADERS WITH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. WE WERE ABLE TO SIT IN THE RELIEF SOCIETY ROOM OF THE STAKE CENTER AND VIEW THE BROADCAST. WE HAD ALL GONE TOGETHER AS A DISTRICT OVER TO SKIBO ROAD TO MEMPHIS BBQ TO ENJOY AN GREAT BBQ LUNCH TOGETHER BEFORE HEADING BACK TO HEAR THE BROADCAST. IT WAS REALLY A FUN, INSPIRATIONAL DAY! ONE SAD NOTE THOUGH: THERE WILL BE TRANSFERS NEXT WEEK SO WE WILL HAVE TO SEE WHO WILL NOT BE WITH US ANY LONGER. WE HAVE GROWN TO LOVE ALL OF THESE YOUNG ELDERS AND SISTERS AND THEY AFFECTIONATELY REFER TO US AS "GRANDMISSIONARIES!!!" MORE ON THE MISSIONARY DEVOTIONAL FOLLOWS BELOW.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THE MONTH OF JANUARY HAS BEEN COMPLETELY FULL OF WONDERFUL, SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SIT AT THE FEET OF THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS AND BE INSTRUCTED LOVINGLY AND PRAYERFULLY AS TO THE LORD'S WORK HERE ON THE EARTH. WE HAVE BEEN SO VERY GRATEFUL FOR THIS EXPERIENCE!

WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE THE CAMERON MISSIONARIES OVER TO MEET SISTER GAY WHO IS NOT A MEMBER. HER HUSBAND IS A LESS ACTIVE MEMBER AND DEPLOYS ALL THE TIME. SHE HAS AGREED TO HEAR THE MISSIONARIES AND SO THEY WERE ABLE TO MEET BOTH BROTHER AND SISTER GAY. SHE AND THEIR 2 CHILDREN, LILY AGE 10 AND CHRISTOPHER AGE 12 ARE BEGINNING TO LISTEN TO THE ELDERS. OUR PRAYERS HAVE TRULY BEEN ANSWERED FOR THIS SWEET FAMILY!

SISTER WELSH AND HER FAMILY HAVE HAD PNEUMONIA DURING THE TIME HER HUSBAND HAS BEEN DEPLOYED. WE HAVE TAKEN FRUIT, CANDY, AND HUGS OVER TO HER AND THEIR CHILDREN. INTERESTINGLY, HER HUSBAND CAME HOME JUST YESTERDAY FROM HIS TIME OUT AT SURVIVAL SCHOOL AT CAMP MACKALL BECAUSE HE TOO CAME DOWN WITH PNEUMONIA! AT LEAST THEY ARE A COMPLETE FAMILY ONCE AGAIN!

WE HAVE NEGLECTED TO KEEP EVERYONE POSTED ON THE HAPPENINGS OF OUR BABIES AND GRANDbabies. OUR DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, LETICIA, HAD A BIRTHDAY LAST MONTH ON THE 20TH. HOW OLD NOW TICIE??? ALSO WE HAVE HAD 4 BIRTHDAYS THIS MONTH: REBEKAH TURNED 5 ON THE 3RD, JAMES TURNED 4 ON THE 7TH, BRETT TURNED 11 ON THE 10TH AND MANDI GIRL TURNED ??? ON THE 23RD. OUR FAMILY IS GETTING OLDER AND OLDER, WHICH MEANS ELDER AND SISTER WADLEY ARE GETTING ANCIENTER AND ANCIENTER!!! WE HAVEN'T BEEN VERY GOOD ABOUT "SKYPE"ING WITH EVERYONE. WE CONTINUE TO HAVE GOOD INTENTIONS, BUT THINGS COME UP. WE MADE A NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION TO SKYPE WITH EACH FAMILY ONCE A MONTH, SO WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP THAT RESOLUTION. WE KNOW THAT BABY JANE STARTED BALLET LESSONS BECAUSE SHE IS FINALLY OUT OF DIAPERS! I THINK THIS MEANS THAT ALL THE WADLEY CLAN ARE FINALLY OUT OF DIAPERS!! HIP HIP...HOORAY! SARA MADE THE HONOR ORCHESTRA AND KAYLEE MADE THE HONOR BAND. WAY TO GO YOU TALENTED GIRLS! WE KNOW THAT BRETT CROSSED OVER TO 11 YEAR OLD SCOUTS AND EARNED HIS ARROW OF LIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS YOU SCOUTER...YOU!!! JEN AND JOSH HAVE BEEN INUNDATED WITH SNOW AND WIND! TYPICAL FOR THEIR NECK OF THE WOODS. ONE REALLY EXCITING THING AT THE GILLESPIE HOUSEHOLD IS THAT THEY HAVE COMPLETELY FINISHED THEIR BASEMENT. THE CARPET WAS LAID THIS MONTH! HOW EXCITING FOR YOU GUYS! WE CAN'T WAIT TO COME BACK HOME AND SEE IT. MANDI GIRL WAS ABLE TO HAVE HER MOM AND SISTERS COME OVER TO HELP HER CELEBRATE HER BIRTHDAY. HOW NICE IS THAT! DAVID TRAVELED TO DALLAS FOR WORK DURING JANUARY. MICHAEL DID A STINT UP AT JOINT BASE LEWIS/MCCHORD DURING JANUARY FOR HIS RESERVE DUTY. KEEP FEEDING US INFO ON THE HAPPENINGS KIDDOS. WE LOVE TO BRAGG!!! (GET IT...FORT BRAGG!!!)

BEAU BERGDAHL WAS BROUGHT TO FT. BRAGG THIS MONTH TO HEAR THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM FOR HIS DESERTION. HE WAS WHISKED IN AND OUT OF THE FORT. BECAUSE THIS POST HOUSES SEVERAL DIFFERENT HEADQUARTERS, THINGS ARE ALWAYS HAPPENING HERE. ELDER WADLEY AND I ARE ALWAYS AMAZED AS TO THE SIZE OF THIS PLACE. WE ARE STILL TRYING TO FIND WHERE EVERYONE LIVES. IT'S A NEVER ENDING PROCESS! BECAUSE WE LIVE ON POST AND DON'T HAVE ANY LITTLE ONES RUNNING AROUND, THE FT. BRAGG WARD MISSION LEADER HAS ASKED US IF WE CAN HOLD THE MISSIONARY CORRELATION MEETING IN OUR HOME EACH SUNDAY EVENING. IT HAS BEEN A LOT OF FUN, SINCE ALL OF THEM ARE SO YOUNG AND SO ENTHUSED!! WE ALSO OPEN OUR HOME ANYTIME THE ELDERS OR ZONE LEADERS WANT TO TEACH A SINGLE FEMALE MILITARY MEMBER, WHICH USUALLY HAPPENS ABOUT 4 OR 5 TIMES A MONTH. THIS IS ALWAYS SUCH A REALLY SPECIAL TIME WHEN WE CAN SHARE OUR TESTIMONIES OF THE GOSPEL AND GET TO KNOW THEM. MY HEART REALLY SKIPS A BEAT WHEN I WATCH THESE ELDERS AND SISTERS TEACH INVESTIGATORS THE GOSPEL! I WANT TO TEXT EACH OF THEIR PARENTS AND TELL THEM HOW PROUD THEY WOULD BE OF THEM!!!

ELDER WADLEY AND I GET VERY SENTIMENTAL WHEN WE WATCH THESE MISSIONARIES AND REALIZE THAT IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE WE WILL HAVE GRANDCHILDREN SERVING MISSIONS TOO. WE ARE SO PROUD OF ALL THOSE IN OUR FAMILY WHO SERVED HONORABLE MISSIONS! NOW THEY HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF TRAINING THEIR OWN CHILDREN TO SOMEDAY, DO AS THEY HAVE DONE, AND SERVE THE LORD! WHAT A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY! I REMEMBER WHEN OUR 2 SONS SERVED THEIR MISSIONS, I WOULD ALWAYS WRITE THEM AND SAY, "REMEMBER TO DO SOMETHING KIND EVERYDAY FOR YOUR COMPANION. IT WILL MAKE THEM SO HAPPY AND MAKE YOU FEEL SO GOOD!" ELDER WADLEY HAS CERTAINLY FULFILLED THAT REQUEST HERE ON OUR SENIOR MISSION! HE IS SO KIND, SO LOVING, AND SO THOUGHTFUL TO ME. NEVER A DAY GOES BY THAT HE DOESN'T FORGET TO ASK ME WHAT HE CAN DO TO HELP ME. THIS MEANS SO MUCH TO ME.

THERE ARE 2 VERY SPECIAL VISITS WE HAVE HAD THIS MONTH THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO MENTION:

THE FIRST ONE WAS WHEN WE TEXTED A SINGLE MILITARY MEMBER TO SEE IF WE MIGHT STOP BY SOMETIME AND MEET HIM. HE TEXTED US BACK, THINKING THAT WE WERE IN SALT LAKE CITY IN THE WARD HE USED TO BE IN. WE TOLD HIM, NO WE ARE HERE AT FT. BRAGG. HE TOLD US HE HAD TO DEPLOY FOR A MONTH, BUT WOULD GET BACK WITH US UPON HIS RETURN. WE DIDN'T HEAR FROM HIM, SO WE TEXTED HIM AGAIN AND HE SET UP A TIME WE COULD COME BY. THIS IS HIS CONVERSION STORY:

HE WAS IN THE MARINES AND SERVED IN DESERT STORM THE SAME TIME PERIOD AS ELDER WADLEY. THIS INSTANTLY GOT THEM TALKING "MILITARY!" HE GOT OUT OF THE MARINES AND DECIDED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL TO BECOME A LAWYER. HE WORKED IN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN NASHVILLE FOR ABOUT 7 YEARS AND DECIDED HE WAS TIRED OF DEALING WITH ALL THE VERY SAD AND HORRIBLE CASES HE HAD TO TRY AND SO HE REALIZED HE MISSED THE MILITARY AND DECIDED TO JOIN THE ARMY AS AN ATTORNEY. ALL OF HIS LIFE HE HAD CONSIDERED HIMSELF AN ATHEIST HE SAID HE DIDN'T BELIEVE THERE WAS A GOD. DURING THE TIME HE WAS IN NASHVILLE, HE BEGAN READING DIFFERENT SPIRITUAL BOOKS THAT GOT HIM THINKING THAT MAYBE THERE WAS A GOD. HIS FIRST ASSIGNMENT IN THE ARMY WAS AT FORT DOUGLAS IN SALT LAKE CITY. HE SAID THAT AS HE DROVE INTO THE SALT LAKE VALLEY TO START HIS NEW ASSIGNMENT, THERE WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT CAME OVER HIM AS HE ENTERED THE VALLEY - SOMETHING THAT WAS HARD FOR HIM TO DESCRIBE. HE SAID THAT HE HAD A CALM, PEACEFUL FEELING.

AS HE BEGAN HIS JOB AT FORT DOUGLAS, HE MET MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH WHO IN TIME TALKED TO HIM ABOUT THE CHURCH. HE HAD GONE TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT CHURCHES IN SALT LAKE CITY, WHICH WEREN'T LDS CHURCHES. AT ONE POINT, SOMEONE HE WORKED WITH INVITED HIM TO COME TO HIS CHURCH, WHICH HAPPENED TO BE AN LDS WARD. HE SAID HE WAS STILL SEARCHING FOR THE RIGHT CHURCH. HE SAID ALL THE OTHERS HE HAD GONE TO JUST DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT TO HIM.

HE WENT TO THE LDS SERVICES AND TOLD US HE LOVED THE EMPHASIS ON "FAMILY." HE CONTINUED TO GO AND EVENTUALLY WAS BAPTIZED. HE HAS SINCE FINISHED HIS ASSIGNMENT AT FORT DOUGLAS AND HAS COME TO BE AN ATTORNEY AT ONE OF THE HEADQUARTERS UNITS HERE AT FT. BRAGG. HE HAS BEEN DIVORCED FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND HAS 4 CHILDREN. ONE SON IS 25 AND IS STUDYING AT STANFORD, ONE SON HAS PASSED AWAY AND HE HAS 2 DAUGHTERS, ONE IS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE IN NASHVILLE AND THE OTHER IS 16 AND LIVES IN FLORIDA WITH HIS EX-WIFE. HE SAID HIS 2 DAUGHTERS WERE ABLE TO SPEND CHRISTMAS HERE WITH HIM AND HE JUST LOVED WATCHING THEM ENJOY EACH OTHER SO MUCH. HE SAID THEY ARE VERY CLOSE. HIS SON SPENT CHRISTMAS WITH HIS MOTHER.

WHAT A WONDERFUL CONVERSION STORY! ELDER WADLEY AND I JUST SAT THERE AND DIDN'T WANT IT TO END! IT REMINDED US OF A BOOK BY HARTMAN RECTOR, JR. AND HIS WIFE. HE WAS A SEVENTY MANY MANY YEARS AGO. HE AND HIS WIFE WERE BOTH CONVERTS AND THEY WROTE A BOOK ENTITLED, "NO MORE STRANGERS," WHICH ENDED UP BEING 3 VOLUMES BEFORE THEY WERE DONE! IT IS NOTHING BUT CONVERSION STORIES AND IS WONDERFUL! WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT! WE PLAN TO VISIT HIM AGAIN AND WE'RE SURE TALKS ON DESERT STORM WILL CONTINUE, AS WILL STORIES ABOUT HIS CONVERSION, WHICH WE ARE SO ANXIOUS TO HEAR! WHAT AN AWESOME BROTHER IN THE GOSPEL!

OUR SECOND STORY INVOLVES A WONDERFUL FAMILY. WE HAD DRIVEN TO THEIR HOUSE ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. WHEN WE WENT UP ON THE PORCH, THERE WAS A SIGN THAT READ, "PLEASE DO NOT KNOCK OR RING THE BELL, BABY SLEEPING. IF YOU KNOW ME, YOU CAN TEXT ME AND I WILL GET BACK TO YOU." THERE WAS NO PHONE NUMBER ON THE WARD ROSTER - JUST A SISTER'S NAME. THIS GAVE US NO OTHER CHOICE THAN TO JUST WALK AWAY.

TIME WENT ON AND WE WERE GIVEN AN UPDATED ROSTER WHICH WE STARTED WORKING ON TO GO AND DO VISITS AND MEET MEMBERS WHO HAD MOVED INTO THE WARD, ETC. WE CAME UPON THIS ADDRESS AGAIN AND DIDN'T REALLY REMEMBER WHICH PERSON IT WAS, SO WE DROVE TO IT. AS WE GOT NEAR THE HOUSE, I TOLD ELDER WADLEY, "I THINK WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE." SURE ENOUGH, AS WE APPROACHED THE PORCH, IT WAS THE SAME ONE THAT HAD HAD THAT NOTE ON THE DOOR. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE WAS, THE NOTE WAS GONE! WE RANG THE DOORBELL AND A BOY ABOUT 10 OPENED THE DOOR FOLLOWED BY HIS MOM.

WE INTRODUCED OURSELVES AND SHE WELCOMED US IN. AS WE BEGAN VISITING WITH HER, SHE INTRODUCED HER 3 CHILDREN WHO HAD JUST FINISHED THEIR HOMEWORK (SHE HOME SCHOOLS) AND WERE ABLE TO PLAY ON THEIR TABLETS FOR A WHILE. THEY HAVE A BOY 10, A BOY 9, A GIRL 4, A BOY 2 AND A BABY BOY 9 MONTHS OLD. THE LITTLE 4 YEAR OLD GIRL CAME AND SAT DOWN BETWEEN ELDER WADLEY AND MYSELF AND SHOWED US WHAT SHE WAS PLAYING WITH. JUST THE SWEETEST FAMILY.

SHE EXPLAINED TO US THAT HER HUSBAND WAS IN THE AIR FORCE AND THEY HAD MOVED TO FT. BRAGG FROM ENGLAND ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO. WE MENTIONED THE BASE IN ENGLAND WHERE WE HAD BEEN STATIONED AND SHE KNEW IT, BUT SAID THEY WERE STATIONED AT ANOTHER ONE NEARBY. WE BEGAN TO FEEL LIKE WE HAD A LOT IN COMMON WITH HER AND BELIEVE SHE DID TOO. SHE THEN TOLD US, "I SHOULD TELL YOU, I HAVEN'T BEEN TO CHURCH IN A LONG TIME. I WENT TO CHURCH SINCE I WAS 2 AND MY MOTHER STILL GOES IN PORTLAND, OREGON, BUT I GUESS BECAUSE MY HUSBAND IS CATHOLIC, IT HAS JUST BEEN EASIER FOR US TO ATTEND ANOTHER CHURCH AND KIND OF COMPROMISE. I WAS DRIVING HOME WITH THE KIDS ONE DAY AND NOTICED A CHURCH NEAR THE HOUSE HERE AND DECIDED WE SHOULD TRY THAT ONE. SHE SAID ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WAS BECAUSE THE CAMERON WARD WAS SO FAR AWAY. IT WOULD ACTUALLY TAKE THEM ABOUT 20-30 MINUTES TO GET THERE. THIS CHURCH IS A BAPTIST CHURCH.

SHE SAID THAT SHE FELT IT REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE SHE SAID HER HUSBAND HAS NEVER REALLY GONE TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND SHE FEELS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING HIM, JUST NATURALLY SAY, "I'M CATHOLIC" BECAUSE ALL OF THEIR ANCESTORS HAVE BEEN CATHOLIC AND SO "THIS IS JUST WHAT THEY SAY." ELDER WADLEY AND I ACTUALLY HAVE NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE RIGHT NEAR US THAT TELL US THIS EXACT SAME THING! WE DIDN'T, OF COURSE, MENTION THIS TO HER.

SHE SAID THAT SHE GOES TO ONE OF THE LADIES STUDY GROUPS AND ENJOYS IT. SHE SAID THAT HER 10 YEAR OLD SON ASKED HER WHEN HE WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET BAPTIZED AND SHE TOLD HIM WE WILL HAVE TO ASK THE PASTOR. THEY HAVE ASKED HIM TWICE AND NOTHING HAS EVER BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. AS SHE CONTINUED TO TALK TO US, SHE WAS THE MOST SINCERE PERSON WE HAVE EVER MET, AND SHE VERY THOUGHTFULLY TOLD US, "I THINK I REALLY DO NEED TO START COMING BACK TO CHURCH. I FEEL LIKE SOMETHING IS JUST MISSING AT THIS CHURCH AND IN OUR FAMILY." SHE SAID THEY HAD HAD SOME MARITAL PROBLEMS WHEN THEY CAME BACK TO THE STATES AND SO THEY THOUGHT THAT BY JOINING A CHURCH THAT WAS REALLY NEITHER OF THEIR CHURCHES MIGHT BE A GOOD WAY TO TRY TO MEND THINGS. SHE SAID HER HUSBAND REALLY ISN'T AGAINST HER FAITH AT ALL AND THEY HAVE DISCUSSED IT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT JUST DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND SHE THINKS HE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO LEARN. SHE SAID HER SONS ARE INVOLVED IN A TYPE OF SCOUTING PROGRAM AT THE BAPTIST CHURCH THAT IS "CHRISTIAN CENTERED," AND HER HUSBAND HELPS OUT WITH IT. SHE IS SUCH A VERY SWEET, SWEET LADY AND WE WANT SO BADLY FOR HER TO HAVE THE FULLNESS OF THE GOSPEL IN HER LIFE AGAIN. ELDER WADLEY ASKED HER IF SHE THINKS HER HUSBAND WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HAVING THE MISSIONARIES COME OVER AND TEACH HIM. SHE SAID SHE THOUGHT HE WOULD. HE TOLD HER TO VISIT WITH HIM AND WE LEFT OUR CARD WITH HER AND TOLD HER TO TEXT OR CALL US AND WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO COME OVER AND BRING THE MISSIONARIES. SHE ASKED HOW OLD THEY WERE AND WE TOLD HER PROBABLY ABOUT 20. SHE SMILED AND SAID, "WELL I KNOW HE WOULD LIKE VISITING WITH YOU." (AS SHE POINTED TO ELDER WADLEY.") WE ALL LAUGHED AND SHE SAID SHE WOULD TALK TO HIM. WE LEFT HER HOME FEELING SUCH LOVE FOR HER AND HER SWEET FAMILY. WE NOTICED WHEN WE SAT DOWN IN THEIR LIVING ROOM, SHE HAD A FRESH VASE OF BEAUTIFUL ROSES ON THE COFFEE TABLE. SISTER WADLEY HAD ASKED HER IF THEY WERE REAL AND SHE SAID, "YES, I JUST BOUGHT THEM TODAY!" HER HOME WAS SO WELCOMING - JUST AS SHE WAS. WE ARE PRAYING FOR THIS VERY SWEET FAMILY AND TRUSTING IN THE LORD THAT WE WILL HEAR FROM HER AND CAN PROCEED TO INTRODUCE THE GOSPEL TO HER HUSBAND AND THEY CAN EVENTUALLY BE SEALED TOGETHER AS A FAMILY FOR TIME AND ALL ETERNITY.

THIS, TO US, IS A VERY SPECIAL WAY TO BEGIN 2016. THIS GIVES EACH OF YOU, AND ESPECIALLY OUR VERY PRECIOUS GRANDbabies A GLIMPSE OF THE IMPORTANT WORK GRANDMA AND GRANDPA ARE DOING HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA. BUT WE NEED TO REMIND YOU...IT ISN'T OUR WORK...IT IS THE LORD'S WORK. IT ISN'T OUR SPIRIT THAT TOUCHES THE HEARTS HERE...IT IS THE LORD'S. WE ARE INSTRUMENTS AND SERVE AS HIS HANDS HERE ON THE EARTH BUT WE ACKNOWLEDGE HIS HAND IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO AND SAY. IT IS TRULY A BLESSING IN OUR LIVES TO BE ABLE TO SERVE HIM AT THIS TIME AND TO REAP THE REWARDS OF FINDING SWEET, SWEET SPIRITS THAT THE LORD HAS PREPARED TO BUILD OUR TESTIMONIES AT THIS TIME IN OUR LIVES. WE ARE FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR THIS.

ON THE 20TH OF JANUARY WE WERE ABLE TO ENJOY A VERY SPECIAL WORLDWIDE MISSIONARY DEVOTIONAL FROM SALT LAKE CITY WHICH I MENTIONED EARLIER. ELDER ANDERSON SAID THAT THEY HAVE NOT HELD ONE OF THESE IN OVER A DECADE. WE HAD OUR REGULAR DISTRICT MEETING AT THE STAKE CENTER, THEN STOPPED ABOUT A HALF HOUR EARLY AND ALL OF US (1 COMPANIONSHIP OF SISTERS AND 3 COMPANIONSHIPS OF ELDERS) WENT TO A GREAT SOUTHERN BBQ RESTAURANT IN FAYETTEVILLE, THEN CAME BACK AND SAT IN THE RELIEF SOCIETY ROOM AND WATCHED THE CONFERENCE. THOSE TAKING PART IN THE CONFERENCE INCLUDED NEIL L. ANDERSON AND DAVID A. BEDNAR OF THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES,
W. CHRISTOPHER WADDELL OF THE PRESIDING BISHOPRIC, L. WHITNEY CLAYTON OF THE PRESIDENCY OF THE SEVENTY, BRENT H. NIELSON OF THE SEVENTY AND BONNIE L. OSCARSON, YOUNG WOMEN GENERAL PRESIDENT. IT WAS AN OUTSTANDING CONFERENCE. SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS DEVOTIONAL ARE AS FOLLOWS:

* THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO TESTIFY OF THE SAVIOR.
* HAVE THE SAVIOR'S NAME ON YOUR LIPS AND BE PREPARED AS THE PROMPTINGS COME TO TESTIFY OF HIM.
* IF EVER UNSURE WHAT TO SAY, SPEAK OF THE SAVIOR AND THE 4 FOLD MISSION OF THE CHURCH: BAPTISM, CONFIRMATION, THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST AND ENDURING TO THE END.
* KEEP THE TEACHING SIMPLE.
* PETER TAUGHT THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST IN IT'S PUREST FORM: "REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED AND YE SHALL RECEIVE THE TRUTH."
* HELP LIFT THE FAITH OF PEOPLE FROM WHEREVER THEY ARE TO A HIGHER FAITH IN GOD.
* KNEEL DOWN WITH THOSE YOU TEACH.
* ORDINANCES ARE ESSENTIAL FOR SALVATION.
* ONE DAY WE WILL BE WRAPPED IN HIS ARMS AND BE HIS FOREVER.
* WE CAN'T PUSH THE ROLE OF THE HOLY GHOST INTO THE HEART AND CONVERT - THE HOLY GHOST DOES THAT.
* WE BRING THE SPIRIT INTO THE TEACHING SETTING AS WE ARE OBEDIENT, CLEAN AND WORTHY.
* THE HOLY GHOST IS THE TEACHER.
* WE BRING IT "UNTO," BUT THE INVESTIGATOR BRINGS IT "INTO."
* INVESTIGATORS NEED THE EXPERIENCE OF EXPERIENCING THE HOLD GHOST. HELP THEM FEEL THE SPIRIT.
* DON'T GET IN THE WAY OF THE HOLY GHOST. HELP THE INVESTIGATOR REALIZE IT IS THE HOLY GHOST THEY ARE FEELING.
* WE CAN'T CONVERT IF WE AREN'T CONVERTED - THE WORDS WILL CHOKE IN OUR THROAT - ELDER HOLLAND.
* MOST OF THE TIME, TEACHING IS NOT TALKING, IT'S LISTENING AND OBSERVING.
* REVELATION IS THOUGHTS TO MIND AND FEELINGS TO HEART.
* THE ROLE OF THE HOLY GHOST IN CONVERSION: TO CONVERT THE INVESTIGATOR. OUR ROLE: TO CREATE A SPIRIT FOR THE HOLY GHOST TO WORK
* WITHOUT THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST, WE ARE UTTERLY INCAPABLE OF CHANGING THE HEARTS OF INVESTIGATORS. HE IS THE INSTRUMENT OF ENDURING CONVERSION.
* THE MESSAGE WE HAVE TO SHARE IS LIFE ALTERING AND ETERNITY CHANGING.
* OUR INVESTIGATORS MUST BECOME AGENTS AND NOT OBJECTS.
* WE TEACH PEOPLE NOT LESSONS.
* ELIJAH DIDN'T COERCE. OUR ROLE IS TO FOLLOW UP AFTER APPROPRIATE COMMITMENT INVITATION. WILL YOU????
* MORE PEOPLE ARE BAPTIZED BY WORKING WITH MEMBERS.
* WHOM DO YOU KNOW? WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED AND BENEFIT FROM THE GOSPEL MESSAGE?
* ONE MEMBER CAME OUT ON THE PORCH WHEN THE MISSIONARIES CAME TO THE DOOR WITH A NEIGHBORHOOD MAP OF RECENT MOVE INS! THAT IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT!!!
* PRESIDENT MONSON: NOW IS THE TIME FOR MEMBERS AND MISSIONARIES TO COME TOGETHER.
* WHO ARE YOU?? WE ARE ROYALTY - WE ARE THE SONS AND DAUGHTER OF GOD!
* MISSIONARY WORK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK WE CAN DO IN MORTALITY.,
* PRAY SO YOU CAN LOOK BACK ON YOUR MISSIONARY EXPERIENCE BY BEING FAITHFUL AND TRUE.
* WE MUST HAVE THE SPIRITUAL STATURE TO DWELL IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD.
* WE DON'T PREACH AND TEACH TO INCREASE OUR NUMBERS.
* WE SEEK FOR THE BAPTISM THAT FOLLOWS SINCERE REPENTANCE.
* PRINCIPLE JOB OF MISSIONARIES: TEACH REPENTANCE AND BAPTIZE CONVERTS.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS DEVOTIONAL WAS PHENOMENAL! SUCH A WONDERFUL SPIRIT FILLED THE ROOM AS WE SAT AS A DISTRICT AND FEASTED UPON THE WORDS OF THE PROPHETS.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE MENTIONED THE WONDERFUL VON LATTA'S! WE HAVE BECOME SUCH GOOD FRIENDS WITH THEM. THEY ARE A LESS ACTIVE COUPLE, WHO WE WENT TO VISIT ONE DAY. COME TO FIND OUT, THEY WERE STATIONED AT RAF UPPER HEYFORD IN ENGLAND THE SAME TIME WE WERE AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ENJOY SUCH A GREAT FRIENDSHIP WITH THEM! WE HAVE GONE OUT TO DINNER TOGETHER, THEY HAVE HAD US OVER, WE HAVE HAD THEM OVER. IN ONE OF OUR LAST VISITS TOGETHER, BROTHER VON LATTA ASKED ELDER WADLEY ABOUT THE CHURCH AND HOW HE BECAME A MEMBER. ELDER WADLEY EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT HE WAS BORN INTO THE CHURCH. BROTHER VON LATTA TOLD ELDER WADLEY THAT HIS FATHER WAS OF THE REORGANIZED LATTER DAY SAINT FAITH AND SINCE HE WAS FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK, HIS FATHER WOULD TAKE HIM TO SEE THE PAGEANT IN PALMYRA EACH YEAR. WHEN HE MARRIED HIS WIFE, SHE WAS A MEMBER AND HE LISTENED TO THE MISSIONARIES AND JOINED THE CHURCH, BUT THEY HAVE JUST BEEN LESS ACTIVE. WE ARE PRAYING EVERY DAY THAT THEIR HEARTS WILL BE TOUCHED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY WILL FEEL THE HOLY GHOST INVITING THEM TO RETURN AGAIN TO THE CHURCH AND ENJOY THE LOVE OF THE GOSPEL.

WE ARE BECOMING MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE POST AND THE MEMBERS ON THE POST. SINCE THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 9 LARGE HOUSING AREAS, IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO LEARN ALL OF THEM! WE HAVE A NEW SENIOR MILITARY RELATIONS COUPLE COMING ON FEBRUARY 12TH! WE ARE SO EXCITED TO MEET THEM AND WORK WITH THEM. WE HAVE GONE OVER TO THE APARTMENT THEY WILL BE USING AND HAVE GOTTEN THINGS READY FOR THEIR ARRIVAL. WE HAVE BRAND NEW UPDATED WARD ROSTERS FOR THEM AND HAVE WORKED WITH THE YOUNG ELDERS AND SISTER TO HIGHLIGHT ALL OF THE ACTIVE AND LESS ACTIVE, PART MEMBER, ETC. FAMILIES. THAT WAS SUCH A BIG HELP TO US WHEN WE ARRIVED HERE.

WE ARE CONTINUING TO GO OUT TO CAMP MACKALL AND ENJOY A SACRAMENT MEETING WITH THE SOLDIERS DEPLOYED OUT THEIR FOR THEIR SPECIAL FORCES SURVIVAL SCHOOL. IT HAS BEEN SUCH A REWARDING AND SPIRITUALLY UPLIFTING TIME FOR US. WE COME AWAY WITH SUCH A SENSE OF NOT ONLY PRIDE FOR THE MILITARY OF OUR COUNTRY, BUT WITH A DEEP SENSE OF GRATITUDE FOR THE GOSPEL AND THE ROLE IT PLAYS IN EVERYONE'S LIFE.

WE CONTINUE TO ADD MORE FAMILIES TO OUR LIST OF "DEPLOYED SPOUSES." WE GET AROUND TO ALL OF THEM ONCE A WEEK TO CHECK ON THEM AND USUALLY TAKE A LITTLE TREAT FOR THE KIDS. THEY ARE BEGINNING TO LOOK FORWARD TO OUR COMING...I WONDER WHY??? WE WALKED INTO ONE HOME THIS PAST WEEK WITH A BAG OF CUTIES AND THE LITTLE BOY RAN UP TO US AND SAID, "THOSE ARE MY FAVORITE!!" SUCH A SMALL PRICE TO PAY TO LET THOSE KIDS KNOW THAT THERE ARE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH WHO LOVE THEM AND CARE ABOUT THEIR WELL-BEING. WE LOVE ALL OF THEM!

WE WERE ABLE TO GO UP TO THE RALEIGH TEMPLE ON SATURDAY, THE 30TH OF JANUARY. THE FORT BRAGG RELIEF SOCIETY PRESIDENT'S SON, WHOM WE HAVE TAUGHT THE TEMPLE PREPARATION CLASSES TO, RECEIVED HIS ENDOWMENTS AND WE WERE ABLE TO BE UP THERE WITH HIM. HE IS THE VERY FIRST MISSIONARY TO GO OUT OF THE FORT BRAGG WARD. THAT'S QUITE AN HONOR! THE YOUNG SINGLE ADULTS WERE ALSO UP THERE DOING BAPTISMS FOR THE DEAD. IT WAS A GREAT DAY! WE ALSO MANAGE TO FIT IN A COSTCO RUN WHENEVER WE ARE UP THERE, WHICH ISN'T THAT OFTEN! I THINK WE HAVE ONLY BEEN UP THERE TWICE IN THE 5 MONTHS WE HAVE BEEN HERE.

I FINALLY HAD TO VISIT WOMACK - THE BIG ARMY MEDICAL CENTER HERE ON FORT BRAGG. NOTHING SERIOUS. WAX HAD BUILT UP IN MY EAR THAT THEY REMOVED. THEN I WENT BACK AGAIN A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER BECAUSE OF BAD ALLERGIES. I HAD BEEN ITCHING MY EYES SO MUCH THAT THE SKIN ALL AROUND MY EYES WAS RAW. THEY GAVE ME 2 DIFFERENT TYPES OF EYE DROPS AND AN OINTMENT TO PUT ON MY SKIN. WITHIN A DAY, IT WAS 95 PERCENT BETTER! NOT SURE WHAT THAT WAS ALL ABOUT! OTHER THAN THOSE 2 EPISODES, ELDER WADLEY AND I HAVE HAD EXCELLENT HEALTH WHILE WE HAVE BEEN SERVING THE LORD - TRULY BLESSED.

WE HAVE BEEN TALKING A LOT LATELY IN ALL OF THE WARDS ABOUT USING PREACH MY GOSPEL IN THEIR FAMILY HOME EVENINGS. OUR HOME WARD ENCOURAGED THIS AND WE DECIDED IT WAS A GREAT THING TO BRING UP HERE. WE HAVE TALKED IN SACRAMENT MEETING IN ALL 3 WARDS WITH THE OTHER FULL TIME ELDERS AND SISTERS AND ENCOURAGED PARENTS TO INCORPORATE A LESSON A MONTH INTO THEIR FAMILY HOME EVENINGS. WE HAVE HAD SOME REALLY GOOD FEEDBACK! AFTER ALL....IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE EVERYONE'S CHILDREN WILL BE SERVING MISSIONS....DID YOU HEAR THAT GRAND babies???? STUDY HARD NOW...IT WILL BE THAT MUCH EASIER WHEN YOU ARE CALLED TO SERVE. GRANDMA AND GRANDPA WOULD ENCOURAGE EACH OF OUR 4 CHILDREN TO MAKE THIS A PRIORITY FOR THEIR FAMILY HOME EVENINGS ONE WEEK A MONTH! YOU'LL BE SO GLAD YOU DID!

WE HAD A VERY BAD ICE STORM A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. IT LITERALLY RAINS ICE. THE TREES ARE ALL LADEN DOWN WITH ICE, MANY BREAKING THEIR BRANCHES RIGHT OFF. WE HAD TO CANCEL ALL OF OUR APPOINTMENTS FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND WERE TOLD BY OUR MISSION PRESIDENT TO STAY OFF THE ROADS. IT HAS BEEN INTERESTING EXPERIENCING THIS TYPE OF WEATHER.

WE CONTINUE TO HELP CLEAN THE STAKE HOUSE WHEN IT IS OUR WARD'S OR BRANCH'S TURN. WE USUALLY HAVE TO WORK AROUND BAPTISMS! THE FORT BRAGG WARD HAS ABOUT 300 PEOPLE IN IT...200 OF THESE ARE PRIMARY AND NURSERY CHILDREN!!!! WE ARE USUALLY SITTING WITH A FAMILY AT SACRAMENT MEETING WHO HAS A FATHER DEPLOYED SO WE CAN HELP OUT. IT SOMETIMES MAKES FOR VERY LIVELY SACRAMENT MEETINGS. WE TRY TO HELP THEIR MOM'S SHOW THEM HOW TO BE REVERENT - IT BRINGS BACK MEMORIES WITH OUR OWN CHILDREN!

WELL, ELDER WADLEY IS GOING TO ADD HIS 2 CENTS WORTH TO OUR JANUARY 2016 BLOG AND THEN WE WILL PUBLISH IT. I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE LOVE YOU, HOW MUCH WE THINK ABOUT YOU, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY HOW MUCH WE ARE LOVING SERVING THE LORD HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA. IT HAS TRULY BEEN "THE BEST YEAR FOR OUR LIFE!"

MY 2 CENTS WORTH WILL INCLUDE A BOOK OF MORMON SCRIPTURE FOR OUR KIDS AND GRANDkids. IT IS ABOUT HOPE AND LOVE. PRESIDENT EYRING ASKED US TO LEAVE OUR FAMILIES A LEGACY OF HOPE. SOMETIMES I SEND OUR FAMILY A LITTLE SERMON ABOUT HOPE. FOR LOVE, VALENTINE'S DAY IS ALMOST HERE! WE STUDIED THIS SCRIPTURE IN OUR LAST DISTRICT MEETING, AND I KNOW THEY'VE HEARD THIS ONE BEFORE, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY WORTH REPEATING. 2 NEPHI 31:20Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a loveof God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

AS ALWAYS, SISTER WADLEY HAS COVERED EVERYTHING VERY WELL. ONE STORY I'LL ADD TO FINISH FOR THIS MONTH IS ABOUT A SINGLE YOUNG MAN IN THE YSA BRANCH HERE AT FORT BRAGG. WE CONTACTED HIM AND EXPRESSED OUR DESIRE TO GET ACQUAINTED. HE ASKED TO MEET US AT THE KFC ON POST, BECAUSE IT WASN'T CONVENIENT TO SEE HIM IN THE BARRACKS. WE HAD A NICE MEAL TOGETHER, AND A VERY NICE VISIT ABOUT THINGS THAT REALLY MATTER. LIKE EVERYONE, HE'S MADE MISTAKES AND HAD DIFFICULTIES. HE IS LESS ACTIVE, BUT STILL PRAYS, READS THE SCRIPTURES, AND FEELS THE HOLY GHOST IN HIS LIFE. HE'D FINISHED A 500 MILE RIDE THAT DAY ON A BEAUTIFUL MOTORCYCLE, (YES, WE TALKED BIKES FOR A WHILE) AND HE TOLD US HOW THE HOLY GHOST HAD HELPED HIM THAT DAY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. WE EACH BORE TESTIMONY OF HOW MUCH THE LORD LOVES HIM, AND WANTS HIM TO COME BACK TO FULL FELLOWSHIP AND ACTIVITY IN THE CHURCH. THERE WAS SUCH A GOOD FRIENDSHIP AND SPIRIT THERE. THE NEXT DAY, SUNDAY, HE CAME TO CHURCH, MET WITH THE BRANCH PRESIDENT, AND WANTS TO START ATTENDING THE YSA FHE ACTIVITIES. WE ARE SO HAPPY FOR HIM, AND SO BLESSED TO SEE HOW THE HOLY GHOST TOUCHES PEOPLE'S HEARTS AND LIVES. IT'S WONDERFUL TO BE HERE WITH THESE GREAT SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

2 comments:

How fun! I love that you are the grandparents of the ward and that they call you the grandmissionaries! Neat story about the lady you visited with the Catholic husband. I hope the are receptive. It is so nice having the basement done! Not only can u see it when u come home, you can stay in it. In your very own room! Great scripture dad. That is actually the mutual them for the whole church this year. Press Forward. Our yw are learning a new song about it! Love you guys!